Yes, Meow Wolf’s first Texas location is a must-see. Even the gift shop is awesome.
The permanent exhibit, called The Real Unreal, is located next to the Rainforest Cafe at Grapevine Mills. It may seem like an odd choice at first, but nothing is what it seems at Meow Wolf.
(Plus, it just makes sense: a hypothetical portal to an alternate reality would most likely be found somewhere unassuming—hidden in plain sight at an outlet mall in the suburbs.)
When it comes to the “immersive art experience,” a term that gets thrown around a lot these days, Meow Wolf is on a completely different level. It’s really an invitation to explore The Real Unreal without the traditional art exhibit etiquette: Walk through in whichever order you’d like. Touch everything—from the iPads and pay phones to the disco-bedazzled piano and the bioluminescent fungi. Soak it all in—not just the sights, but also the sounds, smells and sensations. Look for clues. Open all the doors, even if you’re unsure where they lead.
Like its older siblings (Denver, Las Vegas, and the original in Santa Fe), The Real Unreal is a portal to a unique, but interconnected, part of the Meow Wolf multiverse, and its complexity goes way deeper than one could glean in one or two visits.
Since it opened in mid-July, tickets have been nearly sold out almost every weekend. As one staff member said on opening night, she noticed that it didn’t matter whether guests are five or 35—their eyes light up just the same.
The Real Unreal is at once an exhibition of DFW’s finest up-and-coming creative talent (which I’ll need to unpack in a separate story), but it’s also a place to reignite a sense of playfulness and imagination. Simply put, it’s a way to spark some joy for your inner child.
Like the other locations, The Real Unreal will also host DJs and live performances, beginning sometime in 2024.
Meow Wolf Grapevine is open seven days a week, with hours from 10am to 9:30pm on weekdays and 10am-10pm on Friday/Saturday. Visit the ticketing site to check availability for specific days and time slots.
Editor’s note: Look out for Part 2 of this in-depth look at Meow Wolf, with more details on upcoming live performances and interviews from the artists.
GALLERY: Meow Wolf Grapevine (©Andrew Sherman)
